Spiral gas and oil separator



May 24,. 1932.

DEMING SPIRAL GAS AND on. smmnon Original Filed Aprilll, 1 929 INVENTOR7804 en Jerri/'17 ATTORNEY Patented-May 24, 1932 I aonnnr ammo, orcmcmna'rr. omo

srmn. ens AND 01:. sarm'roa Application filed April 11, 1929, Serial No.854,276. Renewed October 21, 1881.

This invention relates to separators for separating and separatelydischarg ng l qu d and gas from a conduit through which liquid and gasare being delivered and particularly 5 to separating devices capableotfreeing a as stream from gas; v

The present invention, while of qulte gencral application for separatingliquids from gas, is particularly useful'in connection with oil and gaswells inv which the gas is discharged from the well and carries varyingquantities of liquid with it.

The present invention has for an object to provide a separator which iscapable of freeing the gas from liquid without impeding the flow of gasand without leakage of gas from the conduit. 1

A further object is to providea separator 0 which is of simple andrugged construction, which occupies a small amount of space and whichcan be easily and quickly connected in a pipe line.

A further object is to utilize the velocity 01'? the gas to impart awhirling motion to the stream of gas and liquid so as to cause theliquid to collect along the wall of the conduit and to provide means forconducting the liquid-from the conduit without permitting B0 leakage ofgas.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention maybe said to comprise the de-.

vice as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter describedand particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with suchvariations and'modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilledin the art to which the invention appertains. I Reference should be hadto the accompanying drawings forming a part-of the specification inwhich: V

Figure 1 is a side elevation showingthe separator and liquid dischargedevice embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section throughthe separator.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the. line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of liquid discharge chamber. 7 Y T i liquidheld in suspension in t e' As shown in the accompanying drawings, theseparator comprises an elongated tubular casin 1 which is supporteduponsuitable stan ards 2, preferably in a position in which its axis isinclined with respect to the horizontal. A pipe 3 of smaller diameterthan the casing -1' extends longitudinally through the'casing and theends of the casing have a fluid .tight connection with the pi e. The

pipe 3 is adapted to form a section 0 the conduit through which the gasand liquid mixture flows and the lower end thereof may be connected bymeans of a coupling 4 to a pipe 5 which may be'connected to a gas or oilwell or any pipe line through which the liquid and gas is delivered. Theupper end of the pipe 3 is adapted to be connected by means of a couling 6 with a discharge pipe 7 which may lea to a gas storage tank orgasmain.

Within the pipe 3 and extending substantially throughout the lengththereof, there is a spiral vane 8 which has its outer edge abut- Y tingand secured to the wall of the conduit. The vane 8 is of a widthslightly less than the internal radius of the conduit so that its inneredge is spaced outwardly a short distance from the longitudinal axis ofthe conduit providing a direct axial passageway 9 through which gas mayflow in a straight line from one end of the vane to the other throughthe pipe 3 from the inlet to theoutlet of the separator.

The vane 8 serves to impart a whirling motion to the stream of gas andliquid flowing through the separator and the whirling motion serves tothrow liquid present in the gas stream by centrifugal force against thewall of the conduit, causin the liquid to collect on the wall while t egas passes on through the separator.

The li uid collecting on the wall of the conduit ows by gravitytowardthe bottom of the eonduitand through an elongated slot 11 into theelongated casing 1 surrounding the conduit. The slot 11 extendslongitudi nally of the-conduit along thebottom thereof substantiallythroughout theentire length of the casing l so that liquid will bedrained from the conduit substantially throughout the entire length ofthe Wine. Withthe casing 1 inclined with respect to the horizontal,liquid will flow by gravity toward'the lower end of the casing and anygas entering the casing escapes into the conduit adjacent the dischargeend of the separator.

A liquid dischar e conduit 12 is connected to the lower end 0 the casing1 to discharge liquid collecting in the chamber. In gas and oil wells,there is usually a considerable variation in the proportion of gas andliquid delivered from the well and also considerable fluctuation in thepressure at which the gas and liquid is delivered. The liquid dischargecondu-it must be of suflicient capacity to take care of the maximum flowof liquid and, if this flow is decreased, some of the gas would normallyescape through the liquid discharge conduit.

In order to avoid this loss of gas, means is provided in connection withthe liquid dis:

charge conduit for maintaining at all times a liquid seal to preventescape of gas through this conduit. This means comprises a 'Cllflltb ber13 into which the conduit 12 discharges and this chamber is provided atits lower end with an outlet 14 through which the liquid is discharged.The conduit 12 delivers into the upper portion of the chamber 13 and thechamber contains a float 15 which carries a valve 16 which opens andcloses the outlet 14. When the chamber 13 contains a sulficient liquidto raise the float 15, the valve 16 is lifted from its seat and liquidis permitted to flow from the chamber. WVhenever the level of the liquidin the chamber 13 is lowered sufficientl' to cause the valve to engageits seat, the out et 14 is closed and, when there is suflicient liquidin the chamber 13 to open the valve 16, this liquid provides aneffective seal against escape of gaswhile liquidis flowing through theoutlet 14.

If there are fluctuations in the rate of flow of liquid, the floatcontrolled valve will automatically regulate the discharge of liquid andprevent the liquid from discharging at a rate sufl'icient to break theseal, so that escape of gas with the liquid from the separator is at alltimes prevented.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the outer edge of the spiral vaneadjacent its lower end is spaced from the bottom of the pipe 3 toprovide an opening 17 through which any liquid flowing along the bottomof the pipes 5 and 3 may flow free y along the wall of the pipe to thelower end of the slot 11. Thus, if a portion of the liquid has becomeseparated from the gas before coming to the separator, this liquid willflow directlyto the lower end of the slot 11 and pass to the dischargeconduit 12.

At the upper end of the separa tor. the pipe 3 has a plurality oiopenings 18 which have a total cross sectional area greater than thecross sectional area of the elongated slot 11 so thatthere is a freeoutlet for any gas en-- tcring in the liquid receiving chamber. Theprovision of the openings 18 prevents the development of a'gas pressurein the outer chamber particularly in the upper end therel In order toprevent the creation of a gas pressure in the float chamber 13 whichwould interfere with the operation of the float valve, the pressure inthe top oi the chamber 13 is equalized with the pressure in the upperend of the separator by means of a pipe 19 a extending from the upperend of the separator to the top of the float chamber.

The pipe 19 is provided with a cut-01f valve 20 and a blow-off valve 21.The valve 20 is normally open and the valve 21 is n01'- mally closed sothat the float chamber is in communication with the separator chamber.

,The valve 20 may be closed and the valve 21 opened. to direct the fullpressure headthrough the float chamber for cleani'ng purposes.

- If only a small amount of liquid is being I delivered with the gasfrom the wall, it is unnecessary to provide an automatic valvecontrolling the escape of liquid. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings,thepipe 12 may deliver into the upper end of a tank 22 which replacesthe float chamber 13, the tank 22 being connected to the pipe 19 leadingto the upper end of the se arator and having an outlet 23 controlled bya manually operable valve 24. Liquid separated from the gas is deliveredthrough the pipe 12 to the tank 22 and accumulates therein, the valve 24being opened manually to drain liquid from th tank as often as may benecessary.

In the operation of the separator, the gas is permitted to flow. freelythrough the separator and on through the line while the liquid, byreason-of its greater weight is thrown against the wall of the separatorchamber and flows out through the slot 11. By reason of the decreasev inweight of the fluid stream by the separation of the liquid, the velocityof the stream is increased in passing through the separator, so that thedischarge of fluid through the line is accelerated by the action of theseparator.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a very simpleand effective device for separating the liquid from a gas stream so thatthe gas may be delivered direct into a gas main or storage chamber andthat separation of the gas and liquid is accomplished in such manner asto accelerate the rate of flow of the gas and liquid from the well andwithout-loss of gas.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of aparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, arepresented for urposes of explanationand illustration-and that variousmodifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made withoutdeparting from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What Iclaim is:

I 1. A device for separating liquids-from gases comprisin an elon atedtubular-casmg, a conduit t rough w ich a mixture of gas and liquidflows, longitudinally through the casing and being in communication withthe interior of the casing substantiall throughout the length thereof,means in t e portion of the conduit communicating with the casing for imarting a whirling motion to the stream o gas and liquid flowing throughthe conduit, said means being spaced outwardly from the axis of theconduit and said conduit being unobstructed inwardly of said means sothat an open axial passageway through the separator is provided, anoutlet for discharging liquid from said casing, and means associatedwith the outlet for preventing escape of gas,

with the liquid.

2. A device for separating'liquids from gases comprising a conduitthrough whicha mixture of liquid and as flows, a spiral vane in saidconduit having its outer edge contiguous to the wall of the conduit andits inner edge spaced from the axis of said conduit to provide adirectunobstructedaxial passageway through the separator, a liquid receivingchamber extending along the portion of the conduit containing the spiralvane and in communication substantially throughout its length with theinterior of the conduit, said chamber having an outlet for liquid, andmeans associated with the outlet for preventing escape of gas with theliquid. 7 I

3. A device for separating liquids from gases comprising an elongatedtubular casin g supported at an inclination to the horizontal, a conduitthrough which a mixture of gas and liquid flows, said conduit extendinglongitudinally through said casing and having an elongated slot in itslower side within said casing, a spiral vane in the conduit within saidcasing, said vane having its outer edge contiguous to the wall of theconduit and its inner edge terminating short of the axis of the conduitto provide a direct unobstructed axial passageway through-the separator,and an outlet for liquid adjacent the lower end of the casing.

4. A device for separating liquids from. gases comprising an elongatedtubular casing supported at an inclination to the horizontal, aconduitthrough which a mixture of gas and liquid flows, said conduitextending longitudinally through the casing and being in communicationalong its under side with said conduit extending the interior of thecasing substantially throughout the len h thereof, means in the portionof the casing for imparting a whirling motion to the gas and liquidstream, said means bein' spaced outwardly from the axis of the con uitwhereby an unobstructed axial passageway through the separator isprovided, and a liquid discharge conduit communicating with the casingadjacent its lower end.

5. A device for separating liquids from gases, comprising an elongatedtubular casmg supported at-an inclination to the horizontal, a conduitthrough which a mixture of gas and liquid flows, said conduit extendinglongitudinally through said casing and having an elongated slot'in itslower side within said casing, a spiral vane in the conduit within saidcasing, said vane having its outer edge contiguous to the wall of theconduit and its inner edge terminating short of the axis of the conduitto provide a direct axial passageway, said vane being spaced from thebottom of the conduit at its'lower end to provide a free passage to saidslot for liquid flowing along the bottom of the conduit, and an outletfor liquid adjacent the lower end of the casing. v r

6. A device for separating liquids from gases, comprising an elongatedtubular casing supported at an inclination to the horizontal, a conduitthrough which a mixture of gas and liquid flows, ing longitudinallythrough said casing and having an elongated slot in itslower side withinsaid casing, said conduit havin openings to the interior of the casingadjacent the upper end thereof to permit gas to escape freely from theupper end of the easing into the conduit, a spiral vane in the conduitwithin said casing, said vane having its outer,

edge contiguous to the wall of the conduit and its inner edgeterminating short of the axis of the conduit to provide an unobstructedaxial passageway through the separator, an outlet for liquid adjacent ofthe casing, and means associated with said outlet for preventing escapeof gases with the A device for separating liquids from gases, ingsupported at an inclination to the honzontal, a conduit through which amixture of gas and liquid flows, said conduit extending longitudinallythrough said casing and having an elongated slot in its lower side thecon uit communicating with the lower end a comprising an elongatedtubular cassaid conduit extendwithin said casing, said conduit havingopenings to the interior of the casing adjacent the upper end thereof topermit gas to escape freely from the upper end of the casing into theconduit, said opening having a total cross sectional area greater thanthe cross sectional area of the slot, a spiral vane in the conduitwithin said casing, said vane having its outer edge contiguous to thewall of the conduit and its inneredge terminating short of the axis ofthe conduit to provide a direct axial passageway, an outlet for liquidadjacent the lower end of the casing, and

means associated withsaid outlet for preventing escape of gases with theliquid. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT DEMING.

